Posts by Michael Allan McCrae:

Los Angeles Times uncovers child labour in India’s coal mines

Los Angeles Times published a photo essay on May 14 looking at child labour in the coal mines located in India: "Times South Asia bureau chief Mark Magnier and photojournalist Daniel Berehulak report on the mining situation in the Jaintia Hills district of India, located in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. Perhaps as many as thousands of underage workers as young as 8, lured by the wages, leave school to work in coal mines under perilous conditions."
Michael Allan McCrae | May 17, 2011 | 7:41 pm

Quadra FNX and Sumitomo form US$724 million joint venture to develop Sierra Gorda copper-molybdenum project in Chile

Quadra FNX Mining announced on Sunday a US$724 million joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation to develop the Sierra Gorda copper-molybdenum project in Chile. The total cost of the mine is estimated at 2.8 billion and production is scheduled to start in 2014. Sumitomo has a 45% stake in the joint venture; Quadra FNX has 55%. Sierra Gorda is a copper exploration project located in the Atacama Desert, Region II of Chile. According to Quadra FNX's recently completed feasibility study, the production from current sulphide reserves will average 483 M lbs of copper, 25 million lbs of molybdenum, and 64 kozs of gold per annum over a 20-year mine life.
Michael Allan McCrae | May 16, 2011 | 6:11 pm

Osisko posts a loss; achieves its first gold pour

Osisko Mining reported on Friday a loss of Can$5.3 million in the first quarter. The company said that the higher loss incurred is due to high administrative costs reflecting the growth in the company's activities, high non-cash charges from the issuance of stock options in the third quarter of 2010 and lower foreign exchange gain. In the same period in 2010 the company reported a loss of $600,000. Sean Roosen, president and CEO of Osisko, said the company achived some significant achievements.
Michael Allan McCrae | May 15, 2011 | 6:24 am

Uranium Resources puts production on hold

Uranium Resources does not expect to return to production in Texas in 2011 given current uranium pricing, unfavourable sales contracts and less than lucrative resources that are available. Uranium Resources made the statement in its 2011 first quarter update on Thursday. Instead the company is focused on reclamation activities in Texas since its two remaining operating wellfields were fully depleted in June 2009.
Michael Allan McCrae | May 12, 2011 | 2:16 pm

Cameco profit down from $143 million to $91 million in Q1

Cameco announced Q1 results on Friday. Net earnings came in at $91 million compared to $143 million a year ago. The company said the decline was due to lower earnings at all its electricity, uranium and fuel services businesses and an increase in average cost of product sold. The company said production volumes were 23% lower this quarter due to lower production at McArthur River/Key Lake.
Michael Allan McCrae | May 6, 2011 | 9:18 pm

Sherritt’s Q1 earnings up 116% to $63.6 million

Sherritt's Q1 earnings rose 116% over the same quarter a year ago. The company reported net earnings on Thursday of $63.6 million or 22 cents a share. A year ago, the company reported only $29.4 million in net earnings or 10 cents a share. The company's sales volumes were up slightly. Sherritt's sales volumes of nickel, reported in thounsands of pounds, was 9,438 in 2011 and 9,392 in 2010, less than a one per cent increase.
Michael Allan McCrae | April 28, 2011 | 2:45 pm
Two smooth gold drops mining

Barrick’s Q1 earnings rise 22 percent to $1.0 billion

Barrick's Q1 earnings rose 22% to $1.0 billion, up from $820 million a year ago. The company, which released its quarterly financial results on Wednesday, said the rise was due to better than expected production results and higher prices for copper and gold. Barrick's earnings per share were an even $1.00. The total cash cost per ounce of gold is $437 while net cash cost is $308. Barrick said cash costs were ahead of budget due to higher production at its Cortez, Goldstrike and Veladero operations.
Michael Allan McCrae | April 27, 2011 | 6:26 pm
exploration geology mining

Nemaska Exploration reports 53.5 m at 1.81% Li2O, 39.6 m at 1.56% Li2O intersections at its Whabouchi Lithium Project

Nemaska Exploration reported on Wednesday drill results for its Whabouchi lithium project. Highlights were 53.5 m at 1.81% Li2O, 39.6 m at 1.56% Li2O, 13.5 m at 1.81% Li2O and 17.0 m at 1.71% Li2O. Results were from 10 additional holes from a recently completed drill program. In total, the company has drilled more than 43 holes totalling 8,909 metres.
Michael Allan McCrae | April 27, 2011 | 2:35 pm

Allana Potash intersects shallow potash in a previously unexplored area

Allana Potash Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AAA) ("Allana" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drill hole DK-11-16 intersected significant potash mineralization of 29.80% KCl over 4.00 metres starting at a depth of 125.20 metres. Hole 16 intersected two strong zones of potash mineralization which are interpreted to correlate with the Sylvinite Zone and Kainitite Zone in a previously unexplored part of the basin. The Sylvinite Zone returned 6.50 metres of sylvinite which graded 24.79 % KCl and includes a 4.00 metre interval that returned 29.80% KCl. Further down the hole, 5.00 metres of kainitite was intersected which returned 20.29% KCl.
Michael Allan McCrae | April 26, 2011 | 5:19 pm